After our work was done in Kwakwani we took a relaxing boat ride up the Berbice River with our new friend,
Candace--a teacher with WorldTeach.
You know those big, big toads that we used to say give you warts? (or was that from kissing girls?) Well that is our story in the States but here in Guyana there is another side to that old toad story. The old timers here have told me that the extremely deadly Fer-De-Lance snake in Guyana called here the Cropa-Labariah eats these toads and gets it’s venom from them. Incidentally the name of the toad here is “Cropo.” Well guess what? I think the toads here in Guyana are related or are one in the same since the US years ago imported the toads from down here to help control mosquitoes. So watch out if any snakes up there eat the Cropos.
This reminds me of what I was reading in Psalm 119:25ff.
The psalmist says that he is lower than a snake’s belly.
He talks to God about his bad days and God answers him.
His response to God's answer in his grief is:
“Strengthen me and teach me—
Make me understand Your ways—the truth,
Then I will stand amazed with my awesome God."
This is "the faithful way" he says.
Take away the “false way—my distorted thinking”
because I have chosen “the faithful way—help me to not slip!”
I have put Your Words before me,
I cleave to Your Words
I will run in Your Ways
Strengthen my heart for the journey.” (This is the Faithful Way.)
So like I must choose between the "old wives' tale of the toad and the snake or the truth, I must choose between "the faithful way" and "the false way."
I chose the Faithful Way of His Word and reject the False Way of my own choices without regard for God. (Lord, give me your strength to run in it.) I have been on that False Way many times but I am more quickly coming back to Him. :)
May this Thanksgiving find us gratefully in His “The Faithful Way” and not embracing some false toad ideas! I have had enough of that in my life.
On a current note we are spending Thanksgiving dinner with the Colbys--another missionary family here. How about you?~Joe
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Thanks for a great blog. Choosing the faithful way is often the hardest but it always pays off in the end.
I spent my Thanksgiving Day with the Travis family, eating and playing all manner of games. What a great day! I hope you had fun with the Colby's!
Love you both!
~Bek.
As opposed to the 2005 Big Family Christmas, we began the 2006 season with thankfulness that those missing from last year are where the Lord desires them to be. So it's us 5 to share Thanksgiving.
Tonight we went to see Happy Feet. Great movie. love, Lynn
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